ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast: International mediators tried to intervene Sunday in Ivory Coast's growing political crisis after both candidates in the disputed election said they were now president, raising fears the country could again be divided along the lines established during its 2002-2003 civil war. In the northern opposition stronghold of Bouake, several hundred people marched down a main boulevard Sunday afternoon, calling for incumbent Laurent Gbagbo to stand down. They chanted “Gbagbo, thief!” and carried signs including one that read: “Ten years in power _ nothing good.” The international community has recognized opposition leader Alassane Ouattara as the winner of the presidential runoff vote held one week ago. That, however, did not stop incumbent Gbagbo from defying calls to concede. On Saturday, he wrapped himself in the Ivorian flag as he was sworn in for another term at the presidential palace. Hours later, Ouattara told reporters that he too had been sworn into office. The development effectively set up parallel governments and raised serious questions about who was actually in charge of Ivory Coast, which was split into a rebel-controlled north and government-controlled south by the civil war. Despite Ouattara's international support, Gbagbo holds many of the key elements of power, including the army and the state media. The rivals' support also falls along geographical lines, with Gbagbo controlling the south and Ouattara controlling the north. This has led to speculation that each president may govern over his half of the country, in a defacto re-division of the territory along lines established during the war. The country officially reunited in a 2007 peace deal. “The risk of violence between supporters of the two parties, as well as repression by Ivorian security forces against real or perceived supporters of Ouattara, is very high,” said Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. There have been reports of fatalities since the election crisis intensified Thursday, although they could not immediately be independently confirmed.
